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Atom Heart Mother by: Pink Floyd

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Rating: - Overshadowed but equally as good

This is one of the most under rated floyd album to date and was their first UK number 1! I love this album especially the title track. It goes through so many different moods and its so unusual - no band has every tried anything like this and i dont think ever will again. Would love to have seen this performed live complete with the orchestra. The other tracks are the album are also up to high standards. Think summer of 68 is one of Rick Wright best tracks and Fat Old Sun has stood the test of time and still sounds brilliant today and can be seen by Dave Gilmour still playing this track. If although a good track is the runt of the litter and seems to go on forever. Alans's Psychadelic Breakfast, although very gimicky, is a good track to finish of the album and if you can get past the cooking of the bacon and stirring of the tea there is some good instrumental music. Overall a very instrumental album but a very good one at that - needs a few listens to really appreciate it but once your there you will love this album.

Rating: - In A Word: GREAT!

This is not something a newcomer to Pink Floyd may want to pick up. It is somewhat experimental. However, it is all great stuff to listen to. Appearing after the double sprawling album 'Ummagumma', 'Atom Heart Mother' may boast a lot more focus, even a concept (a very loose concept), yet that doesn't mean it is anymore accessible. If anything, this is the most impenetrable album Pink Floyd has ever released, which certainly makes it one of their most interesting albums, in this respect. However, it may still be very much an acquired taste, even for fans, especially since it starts with a 23 minute extended orchestral piece, which gave its name to the album. "Atom Heart Mother" is an orchestral piece that is kind of strange in places, rather contrary, obscure and occasionally naff, however, somehow it is quite soothing to listen to. After this, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and David Gilmour have a song apiece, winding up with a group composition "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" wrapping it up.

Of these, Roger Waters begins developing his voice that made him the group's lead songwriter during their 'classic' period (1973-1983) with his song "If". Richard Wright, on the other hand, has an appealingly mannered, very English psychedelic fantasia on "Summer 68'" and David Gilmour's "Fat Old Sun" meanders quietly before ending with a fantastic guitar workout.

The 13-minute opus of "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" ends the album. This is named after Pink Floyd's roadie Alan stiles, whose voice can be heard declaring what he likes for Breakfast. Alan Stiles' voice meanders in and out of very nice, easy listening drawn out jam sequences.

So, there are interesting moments scattered throughout this obscure Pink Floyd album. With the work that initially seems so impenetrable winds up being 'Atom Heart Mother's" strongest moment. This album clearly demonstrates that Pink Floyd was getting better with the larger picture instead of the details. This is an album that is dramatically overlooked. You can do no wrong by buying this fantastic album. Buy it now, you will not be disappointed.

Rating: - Underrated Pink Floyd album

Alot has been said about Pink Floyd's back catalogue and if you are a Pink Floyd fan you will undoubtedly have heard such classics as Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. But alot of people forget Pink Floyd's earlier work such as Atom heart Mother. Alot of bad things have been said about this album, but it is one of my favourite Floyd albums.

One of the main reasons for this is that, unlike Meddle (another great album), Atom Heart Mother's tracks are mostly unheard by new Floyd Fans. Tracks such as One of these Days and Echoes from meddle will have been heard by most new Floyd Fans, therefore the only new material heard by these fans when listening to Meddle is the middle songs. These are good but will leave Meddle as an anticlimax. Atom Heart Mother on the other hand is very refreshing. When I first listened to it I hadn't heard any of the songs before and was expecting the worst after reading reviews around the internet. But what I got was a great album that I really enjoy listening to.

The title track is as good as Echoes, although might take a few listens to grow on you. But when it des you will think of it as a great piece of music. The main trumpet theme is catchy, with rock drums and bass giving it a great edge. I wasn't too sure about the choir when I first listened but I have grown to accept it, and it isn't too bad now that I'm used to it. The track features some great guitar playing by Gilmour and fits nicely with the main theme. The sound montage towards the end builds up before going back to the main trumpet theme. This track is definitely a masterpiece by a band finding their feet. If is a nice slow song by Waters. It is the weakest of the three middle tracks but it is by no means bad. Summer 68 is a good song, with more trumpets. Fat Old Sun is the stand out short track. It is a great, slow, catchy song by Gilmour with a great guitar solo at the end. The slightly odd Alans Psychedelic Breakfast is interesting, if you can't think of anything else to describe it. Although not too great it does have a good jam at the end. Listen to this song as background music and you will find it just as good as the rest of the album.

Overall this album is just as good as Pink Floyd's later work. It is because it is so underrated that this album shines. You expect a flawed album but you get so much more! Even if you don't get it for the music get it for the great packaging. What other band gives you a recipe with an album?

Rating: - Overshadowed by 'the big guns' but a true gem...

If you were to ask anyone to name a Pink Floyd LP their immediate reaction would no doubt be Dark Side of The Moon or The Wall (- two very superb LPs). However, I can't remember the last time I heard anyone mention this LP, which is a shame...but in that respect it makes Atom Heart Mother a true gem; something that is overshadowed in many ways yet shines through, in my opinion, perhaps more than many other acclaimed Pink Floyd work.

The title track is a 25-minute opus of avant garde rock...from stirring strings, to grunting engines...marching brass...Gilmour throwing in some slide guitar and, at the other end of the spectrum, some pounding drums from Nick Mason. This really is an epic track but, again, overshadowed by, say, Shine on you Crazy Diamond or Echoes. That's not to say that Atom Heart Mother doesn't hold its own - it's certainly my favourite epic Floyd track. At the core of the album are three very delightful songs - the touching "If", Gilmour's idyllic "Fat Old Sun" (great solo at the end...), and Wright's "Summer '68", which contains some great uplifting piano work and melancholic brass!

I must admit that I'm not overly keen on the ending of this LP; it's perhaps a little too 'quirky', yet still very, very Floydian. It's a sort of mish-mash of still-life sounds and synths and crazy guitars. I found that it lingered perhaps a little too long and is a bit of harsh comedown considering the three tracks before it.

Overall, apart from Meddle, I'd say that this is a great starting point for anyone who wants to get into Pink Floyd. I'd almost go as far to say that this is my favourite offering that they've done and is nigh on flawless.

Rating: - Underated and brilliant

First heard this album in 1974 and have loved it ever since. I seem to recall reading that Kubrick wanted to use some of it on his film A Clockwork Orange, but Floyd refused. I think this is one of their best albums.

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